The paper presents results of an empirical research on a sample of 54 young residents in the rural area of Dubrava County, part of Zagreb area. The goals of the research are: establish a perception of life quality in the village amongst young people, identify the main factors that encourage young people to leave the village, and to determine whether there are differences between opinions between advantages and disadvantages of village life in relation to socio-demographic characteristics of young people.
The survey questionnaire was conducted on-line, and descriptive statistical analysis and hi² - test were used in data processing.
The satisfaction of young people in neighbourly relations has proven satisfactory, but it is evident that mutual interaction is weakening. Respondents are most dissatisfied with lack of cultural events and employment opportunities in the village and immediate vicinity.
The advantages of life in the village is natural environment, less pollution in relation to the city, higher feeling of general security, less crowded streets, healthier diet and preservation of tradition and customs. On the other hand, poor offer of entertainment and cultural contents, less opportunities for education and employment are just some of the disadvantages that the respondents point out in their rural area.
The results have shown that 35.2% of young people would leave their village. On the other hand, 46.3% of respondents would not leave the village as a place of life, and 18.5% don’t know if they would leave their rural community. As desirable place of relocation, 38.9% of respondents state larger cities in Croatia, 27.8% of them want to go abroad, and 16.7% of respondents do not know their destination of resettlement. Unemployment as the main reason for leaving in 31.5% of respondents.
As the main initiator for youth retention in the rural environment, respondents indicate better opportunities for employment, education and incentives for agriculture.